It may come as a surprise that thyroid disorders are linked to hearing health, but there is increasing research suggesting just that. If you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, it’s a good idea to examine how that might affect your ears.
What Does the Thyroid Do?
The thyroid is a gland in your neck that is a part of the endocrine system. The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly with one “wing” on either side of your throat. The thyroid is just under the skin’s surface, but you usually can’t feel it with your fingers.
The main function of the thyroid is to produce certain hormones: thyroxine, triiodothyronine, reverse triiodothyronine and calcitonin. These hormones circulate through the body and affect metabolism (the process of transforming the food you eat into energy), heart rate, breathing, digestion and body temperature, among other things. Because the hormones produced by the thyroid affect so many bodily functions, it ends up playing a part in many other processes, such as hearing.
Thyroid disorders occur when the thyroid either overproduces or underproduces its hormones. Most types of thyroid disorders are genetic, but some are connected to another autoimmune disease or develop due to an iodine deficiency.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a thyroid disorder in which the thyroid gland creates an oversupply of hormones. The effects of this include:
- Accelerated metabolism
- Elevated heart rate
- Heat sensitivity
- Sudden weight loss
- Difficulty sleeping
Hypothyroidism
With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland underproduces hormones, and the body suffers from a deficiency. The effects of hypothyroidism include:
- Slowed metabolism
- Slower heart rate
- Cold sensitivity
- Sudden weight gain
- Fatigue
You’ll notice that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have opposite effects.
How Do Thyroid Disorders Affect Hearing?
More research needs to be done, and at this time, the exact causal relationship between thyroid disorders and hearing loss is unknown. However, it is clear there is a correlation between the two. It’s generally believed that thyroid disorders affect hearing due to their effect on heart rate and blood flow, especially hypothyroidism, which slows them down. The inner ear relies on steady blood flow to transmit sound information to the brain, and can become damaged if that blood supply changes.
Another possibility is the effect thyroid disorders can have on nerve pathways, particularly auditory nerve pathways. Thyroid hormones play a large role in our bodies’ growth, so a deficiency of thyroid hormones can cause changes to the development of the auditory nervous system.
Medications
Thyroid disorders can indirectly affect hearing health due to the ototoxic nature of the medications used to treat them. “Ototoxic” means it can damage the structures of the inner ear and lead to hearing loss. This does not mean to avoid necessary medications, but it does mean you should discuss any possible side effects of your medications with your doctor and take precautionary measures to protect your hearing health. The good news is that ototoxicity is affected by dosage amount and how long you take it for. If you do suffer from changes in your hearing due to an ototoxic medication, your hearing may recover once you stop taking it.
How Can I Manage My Thyroid Disorder’s Effects on My Hearing?
It would be a good idea to get a hearing test to establish your hearing thresholds and monitor any changes over time as you treat your thyroid disorder. As stated above, do not skip taking essential medications, but speak with your doctor about any concerns you may have. Call Nelson Hearing Clinics today for more information or to schedule a hearing test appointment.